Translation
By Courtier Fujiwara no Sanekata
How little you know
Of the burning jolt I feel—
As moxa grass
Etched by fire
And drawn to skin
Original Japanese | Pronunciation |
藤原実方朝臣 | Fujiwara no Sanekata Ason |
かくとだに | Kaku to dani |
えやはいぶきの | E-ya-wa i-buki no |
さしも草 | Sashi-mogusa |
さしも知らじな | Sashimo shiraji na |
もゆる思ひを | Moyuru omoi o |
Literal Translation
[each/every/respectively/write/draw/scratch] [even/at least]
[Draw/paint/get/And how] [(Tell could)/Mt. Ibuki/Juniper tree/breath(e)]
[To point/select/shine/tinged with/plant/As the] [mugwort/moxa grass]
[To point/select/etc.] [not having/unaffected by/aside/don’t know (about)]
[Burning or also shake/rock/jolt] [feeling + fire (if “hi” is by itself)]
Every line has a lot of wordplay, making it nearly impossible to translate. “Buki” can be read as a form of “beki,” meaning “could” or “should.” In that case, “i” would be “to tell/say” so it would mean “how could I say/tell.” But “Ibuki” is also the name of a mountain with purple-colored flowers, a Juniper tree that’s fiery red/orange in autumn, and also means “to breathe” or “breath.” It’s a prime example of the multi-faceted wordplay possible in Japanese.
There’s also the repetition of “sashimo.” “Sashi-mogusa” is a type of grass that was burned into the skin for medicinal purposes. Separately, “sashi” means a variety of things, listed above.
Year:
2011
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